Teams seeking extra winter test in 2014

Formula One teams are discussing holding an extra pre-season test in 2014 to allow for more trouble-shooting time with their all-new cars next year.

The introduction of the new V6 turbo engines will be the biggest change to the regulations in recent years, requiring brand new drivetrains and chassis from all the teams. The upheaval in the regulations means the teams are keen to gain an extra week of testing before the season starts bringing the total number of tests up to four.

"There is what looks like quite a mature proposal to have an additional test session [pre-season] which we are completely in favour of," Renault Sport F1 deputy managing director Rob White told Autosport. "I don't know what the format would be or where it would be, but we're of the assumption that it will be an additional session for all teams and it's not optional as everyone will want and need it."

The plan appears to have the backing of all the teams, although during this year's pre-season testing Lotus technical director James Allison suggested it would be possible to get the car ready with just three tests.

"From a performance point of view it's anyone's guess because there is a big, big change and I'm sure there will be some reshuffling of the pack competitiveness wise, but from a reliability point of view and whether you can be ready in three tests ... Well, dynos are quite good at telling you whether engines are reliable and they are quite good at telling you whether gearboxes are reliable.

"Really the only open point will be whether you can produce a car with enough cooling, that's a fair challenge in 2014. But wind tunnels aren't bad either so most of the things to get the car on the ground and make it work are there, the testing would be about performance."

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